About EPA

About the Office of Water

What We Do

The Office of Water (OW) ensures drinking water is safe, and restores and maintains oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants and wildlife.

OW is responsible for implementing the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, and portions of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Ocean Dumping Ban Act, Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, Shore Protection Act, Marine Plastics Pollution Research and Control Act, London Dumping Convention, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and several other statutes.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Office of Water works with the ten EPA regional offices, other federal agencies, state and local governments, American Indian tribes, the regulated community, organized professional and interest groups, land owners and managers, and the public-at-large. OW provides guidance, specifies scientific methods and data collection requirements, performs oversight and facilitates communication among those involved. OW helps the states and American Indian tribes to build capacity, and water programs can be delegated to them for implementation.

Documents Related to Our Mission

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Organization

The Office of Water includes:

Immediate Office of the Assistant Administrator for Water (IO)

What We Do

Under the direction of the Assistant Administrator, the Immediate Office performs a variety of policy, communications, resources management, and operational functions for managing the National Water Program. The IO also works on broad or emerging issues in coordination with its program offices and other parts of EPA.

IO Organization

Joel Beauvais, Deputy Assistant Administrator 

Michael H. Shapiro, Deputy Assistant Administrator 

Ellen Gilinsky, Associate Deputy Assistant Administrator

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Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW)

What We Do

OGWDW, together with states, tribes, and our many partners, protects public health by ensuring safe drinking water and protecting ground water. We oversee implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act. We

  • develop and help implement national drinking water standards;
  • oversee and assist funding of state drinking water programs and source water protection programs;
  • help small drinking water systems;
  • protect underground sources of drinking water through the Underground Injection Control Program; and
  • provide information about drinking water quality to the public.

Programs and projects managed by OGWDW

Mail code: 4601M | EPA mailing addresses
Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus
202-564-3750
ogwdw.web@epa.gov

OGWDW Organization

Peter C. Grevatt, Director

  • Phone: 202-564-8954
  • Email: grevatt.peter@epa.gov

Becki Clark, Deputy Director

  • Phone: 202-564-3818
  • Email: clark.becki@epa.gov

The Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water includes:

  • Standards and Risk Management Division
    Eric Burneson, Director
    • Phone: 202-564-5250
    • Email: burneson.eric@epa.gov
  • Drinking Water Protection Division
    Anita Maria Thompkins, Director
    • Phone: 202-564-3751
    • Email: thompkins.anita@epa.gov
  • Water Security Division
    David Travers, Director
    • Phone: 202-564-4638
    • Email: travers.david@epa.gov

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Office of Science and Technology (OST)

What We Do

OST is responsible for developing sound, science-based standards, criteria, health advisories, test methods and guidelines under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. We work with partners and stakeholders to develop the scientific and technological foundations to achieve clean water through national programs that protect people and the aquatic environment.

Programs managed by OST

Mail code: 4301M | EPA mailing addresses
Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus
202-566-0430
ost.comments@epa.gov

OST Organization

Betsy Southerland, Director 

  • 202-566-0328
  • southerland.elizabeth@epa.gov

Jeff Lape, Deputy Director 

  • 202-566-0430
  • lape.jeff@epa.gov

The Office of Science and Technology includes:

  • Engineering and Analysis Division
    Rob Wood, Director
    • 202-566-1000
    • wood.robert@epa.gov
  • Standards and Health Protection Division
    Sara Hisel-McCoy, Director
    • 202-566-1649
    • hisel-mccoy.sara@epa.gov
  • Health and Ecological Criteria Division
    Betsy Behl, Director
    • 202-566-0788
    • behl.betsy@epa.gov

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Office of Wastewater Management (OWM)

What We Do

OWM supports the Clean Water Act by promoting effective and responsible water use, wastewater treatment, disposal and management and by encouraging the protection and restoration of watersheds. We provide regulatory standards, voluntary management approaches, and financial and technical assistance to states, tribes, communities, and regulated entities to protect human health and aquatic ecosystems, reduce flooding, and protect the nation’s infrastructure investment.

View OWM's Annual Reports.

Programs and projects managed by OWM

Mail code: 4201M | EPA mailing addresses
Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus
202-564-0748
OWM.Comments@epa.gov

OWM Organization

Andrew Sawyers, Director 

  • Phone: 202-564-0748
  • Email: sawyers.andrew@epa.gov

Sheila Frace, Deputy Director

  • Phone: 202-564-0748
  • Email: frace.sheila@epa.gov

The Office of Wastewater Management includes:

  • Water Infrastructure Division
    Raffael Stein, Director
    • Phone: 202-564-5385
    • Email: stein.raffael@epa.gov
  • Water Permits Division
    Debora Nagle, Director
    • Phone: 202-564-1185
    • Email: nagle.deborah@epa.gov

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Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW)

What We Do

OWOW works to protect our freshwater, estuarine, coastal and ocean ecosystems, including watersheds and wetlands. We regulate and monitor ocean dumping and vessel discharges, and reduce aquatic trash and marine debris. We protect water quality and habitats in 28 estuaries around the nation. We control polluted runoff and restore impaired waters.

View OWOW's Annual Reports.

Programs and projects managed by OWOW

Mail code: 4501T | EPA mailing addresses
Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus
202-566-1146
ow-owow-internet-comments@epa.gov

OWOW Organization

Benita Best-Wong, Director

  • Phone: 202-566-1159
  • Email: best-wong.benita@epa.gov

Dave Evans, Deputy Director

  • Phone: 202-566-0535
  • Email: evans.david@epa.gov

The Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds includes:

  • Wetlands Division
    John Goodin, Director (Acting)
    • Phone: 202-566-1373
    • Email: goodin.john@epa.gov
  • Assessment and Watershed Protection Division
    Tom Wall, Director
    • Phone: 202-564-4179
    • Email: wall.tom@epa.gov
  • Oceans and Coastal Protection Division
    Bill Long, Acting Director
    • Phone: 202-566-0620
    • Email: Long.Bill@epa.gov

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